Ok - a couple days ago I posted something in the "lockout" thread about creating a fan's site to voice our displeasure with the NHL and NHLPA. It's now up and running and can serve as a portal to uniting a fan voice behind the lockout. I'm looking for any other people who are angry and upset that the game we love may be put on the shelf...again. It is easy for the league to take a fans for granted and it is hard for one or two people to make a difference. All I am asking is for like-minded people to check out the site, possibly drop a word or two in the "Voice" section and to pledge your support to a Fan's Union. This support is not money -- just the opposite really. It is as follows:For every day of hockey missed due to the current labor issue, We The Fans will go on strike for an equal amount of time once play resumes. We will not spend any money on the NHL, we will not buy merchandise or attend games. We may watch on non-pay per view television but we will boycott sponsors of such games and major commercial contributors. We The Fans will ensure the NHL and NHLPA feels a level of loss equal to that which we are forced to endure.

I'd be grateful if you checked us out and lent your voice to the cause. Passing the word along would be appreciated too.

skullman80 wrote:It's a nice gesture, but it's not going to make one lick of difference.

Most likely not but that is due to a lack of cohesion from the fan base. History has proven many times over that great things can be done when the masses unite for a cause. At the very least, it would be nice to get support from fellow LGP people.

Hopefully in a couple weeks (or days if we are lucky), this becomes a moot issue. Until then, however, I want the NHL and NHLPA to know where as many fans as possible stand on the issue.

...also - it important to note that I am not asking for money...just your voice!

interstorm wrote: We may watch on non-pay per view television but we will boycott sponsors of such games and major commercial contributors...

You guys realize that by watching it on so called "non-pay per view television", that you're still supporting the product on 2 different fronts, right? That cable bill you pay has money in it that goes directly to Root Sports. They get paid per month per subscriber. Also, the ratings you provide help Root Sports get more advertising dollars whether you spend a dime on those products or not. Root Sports earning more money ensures that they will pay more money every time they renew their exclusive regional contracts with NHL teams.

To truely not have any money go to the NHL as a result of your actions, you need to not watch games and not pay for TV.

Quick numbers i calculated: nhl last year's revenue was 3.3 billion. At 57%, the nhlpa take is almost 1.9 billion. With 30 teams and we'll say 25 players per team, the average salary comes out to 2.5 million (actual average was, i believe, 2.4. While my numbers have been simplified the product is close). Now the same 3.3 billion at even 47% works out to produce an average salary close to 2.1 million. We're talking about a difference of $440,000! What's more, if the season is lost to a strike, it would take the average salary almost 5 years to re-coup the amount lost if kept at 2.5 instead of 2.1.

As for the owners. Players took 1.9 in 2011-2012 season. If that dollar value is frozen and league revenue increased at 5% (has actually been more), then player percent is at 49% in just 3 years, at this time unfreeze player dollar total and tie salary to league revenues at 49%. No player rollback needed and owners get better split.

interstorm wrote: We may watch on non-pay per view television but we will boycott sponsors of such games and major commercial contributors...

You guys realize that by watching it on so called "non-pay per view television", that you're still supporting the product on 2 different fronts, right? That cable bill you pay has money in it that goes directly to Root Sports. They get paid per month per subscriber. Also, the ratings you provide help Root Sports get more advertising dollars whether you spend a dime on those products or not. Root Sports earning more money ensures that they will pay more money every time they renew their exclusive regional contracts with NHL teams.

To truely not have any money go to the NHL as a result of your actions, you need to not watch games and not pay for TV.

Well, people would be buying cable regardless on whether they watch hockey or not. I wouldnt suggest they throw their tvs on the curb and burn their cable bill. I am radical...but not that radical!

I know that as a STH, there is an option to donate your tickets to charity and receive a tax write off. If other teams offer the same thing, the best form of protest from STH's/fans who have already paid in advance for tickets would be to donate them to charity on game day (i'm pretty sure it's an option until 2hrs before game time) once the lockout is over for a week or so.

Once the season gets going, I would donate tickets to charity again to make up for boning them at the start of the season.

roland wrote:I know that as a STH, there is an option to donate your tickets to charity and receive a tax write off. If other teams offer the same thing, the best form of protest from STH's/fans who have already paid in advance for tickets would be to donate them to charity on game day (i'm pretty sure it's an option until 2hrs before game time) once the lockout is over for a week or so.

Once the season gets going, I would donate tickets to charity again to make up for boning them at the start of the season.

ulf wrote:nice site. could have come up with a better acronym than WTF ... lol

The acronym is intentional. If the lockout happens (again) we're all literally left saying WTF to the NHL. As for caanan...i like your posts and all but the feedback i've gotten so far has been quite positive.

ulf wrote:nice site. could have come up with a better acronym than WTF ... lol

The acronym is intentional. If the lockout happens (again) we're all literally left saying WTF to the NHL. As for caanan...i like your posts and all but the feedback i've gotten so far has been quite positive.

Serious question: have any players and/or teams contacted you so far? If so, who?

ulf wrote:nice site. could have come up with a better acronym than WTF ... lol

The acronym is intentional. If the lockout happens (again) we're all literally left saying WTF to the NHL. As for caanan...i like your posts and all but the feedback i've gotten so far has been quite positive.

Serious question: have any players and/or teams contacted you so far? If so, who?

No - they haven't. Nor do I expect them really (especially a team -- they wouldn't engage with such a site). I'd actually be more interested in getting picked up on larger media sources. The more followers I can get the more noise I can generate. I'm collecting emails (via the pledge section) and getting a decent response - these can come in handy should I want to organize a focused effort on somewhere/something. Only a couple followers on Twitter but gotta start somewhere. I can say that I'm serious about this cause and I'm willing to put in the tough hours for something I believe in.

Honestly - whether with me or not...I hope anyone else passionate about the NHL and what it could (should) be is doing their part to voice their concerns. I'm hoping to give an outlet for people if desired. As time goes on and if we really do see a lockout (which I hope we do not), I'm sure I'll be needing all the assistance I can get to do the things I plan.

the more fans react, the more certain the owners get that they'll come back after a lockout. Petitions and YouTube videos actually enable this whole mess, if anything. Apathy would be more effective than outrage...though neither are going to accomplish anything significant.

shmenguin wrote:the more fans react, the more certain the owners get that they'll come back after a lockout. Petitions and YouTube videos actually enable this whole mess, if anything. Apathy would be more effective than outrage...though neither are going to accomplish anything significant.

Not sure if I agree. MLB fans were very vocal in 1994 and attendance nose dived. It took Sosa/McGwire to get that league back on track. I think history shows that reaction doesn't equate to people returning. We'll see, though.

Fan boycott of NHL sponsors underway - headlined by Bridgestone (official sponsor of the 2013 Winter Classic). Do not purchase goods or services from them or any other NHL sponsor. Visit our site for the full list and join us at "We The Fans of the NHL" (http://www.WTFNHL.com).

ulf wrote:nice site. could have come up with a better acronym than WTF ... lol

The acronym is intentional. If the lockout happens (again) we're all literally left saying WTF to the NHL. As for caanan...i like your posts and all but the feedback i've gotten so far has been quite positive.

Serious question: have any players and/or teams contacted you so far? If so, who?

No - they haven't. Nor do I expect them really (especially a team -- they wouldn't engage with such a site). I'd actually be more interested in getting picked up on larger media sources. The more followers I can get the more noise I can generate. I'm collecting emails (via the pledge section) and getting a decent response - these can come in handy should I want to organize a focused effort on somewhere/something. Only a couple followers on Twitter but gotta start somewhere. I can say that I'm serious about this cause and I'm willing to put in the tough hours for something I believe in.

Honestly - whether with me or not...I hope anyone else passionate about the NHL and what it could (should) be is doing their part to voice their concerns. I'm hoping to give an outlet for people if desired. As time goes on and if we really do see a lockout (which I hope we do not), I'm sure I'll be needing all the assistance I can get to do the things I plan.

Hope that answers your question

Fair enough. As long as you have a plan.

I'm not sure how much of an overall difference it's gonna make, but I'll at least give you a C for putting forth an effort.